Chapter 18: Substance Misuse and Abuse

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITIONCopyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross

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Define:

Substance misuse

Substance abuse

Drug

Medication

Dependency

Addiction

Tolerance

Overdose

Withdrawal

Synergistic effect

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITIONCopyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross

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Misused and Abused Substances

Substances are categorized according to their effects on the body.

Commonly misused and abused substances are—

Stimulants.

Depressants.

Hallucinogens.

Narcotics.

Inhalants.

Cannabis products.

Designer drugs.

Steroids.

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITIONCopyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross

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General Signs of Substance Misuse and Abuse

Signs of substance misuse and abuse are similar to those of other medical emergencies.

General signs of abuse or misuse include—

Moist or flushed skin.

Sweating, chills, nausea, vomiting.

Fever.

Headache.

Dizziness..

Rapid pulse, rapid breathing.

High blood pressure.

Chest pain.

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITIONCopyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross

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Specific Signs of Substance Misuse and Abuse

Signs of stimulant abuse—• Respiratory distress, disruption of normal heart rhythm and even death can result from

using a stimulant. Very excited. Restless. Talkative. Irritable. Unconscious.

Signs of hallucinogen abuse— Sudden mood changes. Flushed face. Seeing or hearing something that is not present. Anxiousness or being frightened.

Signs of depressant abuse— Drowsiness. Confusion. Slurred speech. Slow heart and breathing rates. Poor coordination.

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITIONCopyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross

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Care for Substance Misuse and Abuse

Follow care for poisoning:

Check the scene to make sure it is safe to help the person.

Call 9–1–1 or the Poison Control Center.

Care for any life-threatening conditions.

Care for any other conditions you find.

Withdraw from the scene if it becomes unsafe.

Look for product or medicine containers, drug paraphernalia and signals of other medical conditions.

If you suspect that someone has taken a designer drug, tell EMS personnel.

After a substance abuse emergency, the victim may need additional support to overcome addiction.

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITIONCopyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross

All rights reserved.7

Preventing Substance Misuse and Abuse

The following guidelines may help prevent unintentional misuse or overdose:

Read the product information and use only as directed.

Ask your physician or pharmacist about the intended use and side effects of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. If you are taking more than one medication, check for possible interaction effects.

Never use another person’s prescribed medications.

Always keep medications in their appropriate, marked containers.

Destroy all out-of-date medications.

Always keep medications out of the reach of children.